Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Recommended Free Tools
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Stelarc is an Australian performance and media artist who uses prosthetics, robotics, biomedical instruments and networked systems to explore how bodies can interact with technology. His “alternative anatomical architectures” include a mechanically controlled Third Hand, performances involving bodily signals and remote actuation, and the Ear on Arm project. These are artistic investigations of human-machine coupling, not a straightforward program of medical enhancement.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Stelarc: The Monograph | $27.81 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Artist’s Sketchbook Hardcover – 200GSM Very Thick Paper – Large, Spiral Sketch Book for... | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Robots and Art: Exploring an Unlikely Symbiosis (Cognitive Science and Technology) | $165.81 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
La mécanique du corps | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Obsolete Body / Suspensions / Stelarc | $249.98 | Buy on Amazon |
Who is Stelarc?
Stelarc works across performance, media art and augmented-human research. Rather than treating the body as a fixed boundary, his projects test what happens when it is extended, sensed or acted upon through machines and communications systems. The Australian Academy of the Humanities describes his projects as exploring “alternative anatomical architectures.”
His practice developed through distinct stages. His official biography records early bodily probes and signal amplification, as well as 27 suspension performances. ANAT says he developed the Virtual Arm through 3D CAD work; the project was realized at RMIT’s Advanced Computer Graphics Centre in 1992. The Virtual Arm belongs to this earlier phase and should not be confused with the later Third Hand or Ear on Arm.
#1 Best Overall
What is Stelarc’s Third Hand?
The Third Hand is a bespoke mechanical hand attached to Stelarc’s right arm as an additional hand. It is a performance apparatus and conceptual experiment in added bodily capacity, not a verified retail prosthesis or generally available assistive device.
According to the artist’s project page, the device is made from aluminium, stainless steel, acrylic, latex and electronic components, with electrodes, cables and a battery pack. Electrical signals generated by muscle contractions (EMG), typically from the abdomen and legs, control its movement. The listed actions include grasping and pinching, 290-degree wrist rotation and tactile feedback.
Rank #2
- Elevate your Artwork – Take your art, sketching or drawing to the next level with your new sketchbook. Bring out your inner Matisse.
- An Artist’s Tool – Let your creativity flow on the large and superior quality drawing paper. 200gsm paper is great for charcoal, colored pencils, oil pastels or watercolors too!
- No Bleed Through Paper – You can write or draw freely without worry of ink leak to the next page. It’s a great quality thick paper sketch book and drawing book for kids or artists alike.
- Show Your Skills – Even if it’s the smallest of sketches, it’s important to showcase your talents on the right sketch pad. Our premium sketch books for drawing are made for you to show your flair.
- It’s a Game Changer – Wire binding and sketch book hardcover so you can draw landscape or portrait. Create memories, inspire and have fun!
What happened to the Ear on Arm?
Ear on Arm is an artistic project to construct an additional ear on Stelarc’s forearm and connect it to other people. The artist describes the second procedure as placing a miniature microphone in the constructed ear. It initially transmitted sound, but infection required the microphone to be surgically removed. The artist describes internet-enabled listening as a planned next step; the available account does not establish that this remote function was completed.
The project’s concept is an ear that could make one body available for listening by people elsewhere. That proposal is distinct from the documented microphone transmission: it describes the project’s intended network capability, not a confirmed current feature.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How have his performances used networks and remote control?
Several projects explore distributed control: a body in one place can receive signals or remote input from elsewhere. Stelarc’s official biography describes Fractal Flesh (1995) as using remote muscle stimulation, and Ping Body (1996) and Parasite (1997) as using internet data to animate the body. In Re-Wired/ReMixed (2016), sensory input and remote access to an arm linked participants in different places.
These works make the network part of the performance’s bodily interface. The Australian Academy of the Humanities describes a 2024 Sonic Resonance performance using cameras, sensor bracelets, bio-signals, projected video and a robot arm. These are accounts by the artist and institutions, rather than independent technical evaluations.
Rank #4
What is Reclining StickMan?
Reclining StickMan was commissioned for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Stelarc’s official biography describes it as an interactive robot measuring 9 metres long and 4 metres high, algorithmically actuated and remotely controllable online. ANAT says the robot used pneumatic rubber muscles. These dimensions and technical details are reported by those sources.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What recognition and later work has Stelarc received?
The Australian Academy of the Humanities records Stelarc’s election as an Honorary Fellow in 2024. His official biography also lists the Ars Electronica Golden Nica Hybrid Arts Prize (2010), the Australia Council Emerging and Experimental Arts Award (2015), and honorary doctorates in 2002, 2016 and 2023.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBest Value
His official chronology lists 2024 activities including Materiality at Praxis Artspace in Adelaide, the Palmer Sculpture Biennial, and Kyoshin (Sonic Resonance) in Tokyo. The Academy interview separately describes a 2024 Sonic Resonance performance at Gwangju Media Art Platform in Korea. These are past events, not announcements of current programming.
Quick Recap
How the projects differ
| Project | Body interface | Input or control | What it explores | Documented status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third Hand | External mechanical hand attached to the arm | EMG signals from muscle contractions | Additional mechanical actions, including grasp and pinch | Project page lists performance capabilities, including tactile feedback and wrist rotation |
| Ear on Arm | Surgically constructed ear on the forearm | Miniature microphone; internet connection described as a planned function | Proposed listening access between bodies in different places | Microphone was removed after infection; remote internet listening is not confirmed as completed |
| Networked performances | Body linked to remote sensing or actuation | Remote muscle stimulation, internet data or remote access, depending on the work | Distributed performance and interaction across locations | Specific capabilities are described in the artist’s and Academy’s accounts |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
